State government leaders have announced an agreement on legislation on awarding six percent of state contracts to service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.

Assemblywoman Addie Russell (D-Theresa), member of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, said she was among the lead advocates working to draft the legislation to increase economic opportunities for veterans.

A press release from Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office notes that, in comparison, the federal government’s goal for awarding contracts to veteran-owned businesses is only three percent, and no other state in the nation offers as robust a program.

“In this tough economy, it is even more imperative that we help these brave men and women be successful upon completion of their service to our country,” Assemblywoman Russell said.

The proposed legislation will also create a Division of Service-Disabled Veterans’ Business Development within the Office of General Services (OGS) that would coordinate the program and encourage State agencies to provide additional opportunities for veterans to participate in state contracts.

Every year, the state buys billions of dollars in goods and services. The expansion of economic opportunity through the significant purchasing power of the state one way to thank service-disabled veterans for their service to our country and to help integrate them into the state’s economy.

New York is home to nearly 900,000 veterans, 72 percent of whom have served during periods of conflict.